INFLUENCE OF SERUM 25-HYDROXYVITAMIN D LEVEL ON THE DISEASE ACTIVITY IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Vitamin D has a pleiotropic effect on many physiological processes in the human body, and its deficiency can lead to the development and progression of autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of the study was to study the influence of blood 25(OH)D level on the markers of RA activity. 93 patients were examined with the articular form of RA. It has been found out that 54.8% patients with RA had vitamin D deficiency, and 37.6% vitamin D insufficiency. The significant negative correlation between blood 25(OH) D level and the markers of rheumatoid arthritis activity (DAS28, ESR, CRP) has been determined. Vitamin D deficiency increases 3-fold the risk of the high activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RR = 3.00 (95% CI: 1.01-8.86, p<0.05)). Thus, vitamin D deficiency can be considered as one of the factors of rheumatoid arthritis progression.